My articles emerge depending on what ever tickles my fancy; hope you enjoy the ride. It started several years ago when one of my op-ed pieces to the Houston Chronicle got butchered; been blogging ever since.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Graffiti is protected by the First Amendment

I find the many and varied interpretations of the First Amendment disturbing as our age of “freedom to do anything” we want lowers our social level further into the sewer.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There you have it, “Everything you want to know about the right given to every individual regarding the human expression”. That’s the line Ed would have as Johnnie’s eyebrow raised and fell on the other camera, a wry smile creeping along the corner of his mouth, that juvenile delinquent attitude about to spring forth.

“Wrong, oh wilted cabbage leaf”, or some other such retort as would have been used on the old Johnnie Carson Show. I hope this isn’t too much of a distraction from where I want today’s thought process to go.

The rights which the constitution protects from our government don’t come from that government; they come from some other “natural” source, more specifically, rights come from God. It would be contradictory for God to bestow the right to express anything which runs contrary to that which he expects His children to do. The line of logic dictates that God never intended the right to free speech to include many of the modern day inclusions such as pornography or swearing.

So how did we sink so low as to include pornography or swearing in the general concept “freedom of speech”? I see a hand back there on the back row, or is that “Roe”? Sorry about that, I hadn’t intended to include the right to murder innocent babies, saving that for some other rant.

“Okay, you on the back row, what marvelous brain storming have you to share with the rest of the class regarding the all inclusive freedom of speech?” A mumbled expression evaporated prior to making it to the front. “Speak up, we can’t hear you.”

“Separation of church and state made it possible to exclude God from the discussion and so we can say anything we want now.” He may be onto something, without God given rights the interpretation of intent permits a never ending distortion of truth. “Give that boy an apple; just remember on the day you partake of it you shall surely die.”

“The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday ( June 29, 2004) that a law meant to punish pornographers who peddle dirty pictures to Web-surfing kids is probably an unconstitutional muzzle on free speech.”

More recently, Larry David, writer and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, recently filmed an episode which included urinating on a picture of Jesus Christ; but it was all done for laughs, just another funny moment for everyone to slap a knee. Hey, it’s freedom of expression and covered by the 1st Amendment; why are you getting your panties in a bind?

President Obama signed the Hate Crimes bill yesterday. I’m sorry, actually he signed a defense funding bill critical to safe guarding America and the controversial Hate Crimes portion had to be included as part of a national security measure that couldn’t be voted down.

“Several religious groups have expressed concern that a hate crimes law could be used to criminalize conservative speech relating to subjects such as abortion or homosexuality. However, Holder has said that any federal hate-crimes law would be used only to prosecute violent acts based on bias, not to prosecute speech based on controversial racial or religious beliefs.”

I guess urinating on the image of Christ is safe because it falls under that area which won’t be prosecuted based on controversial racial or religious beliefs. If that’s so, then what was all the hoopla about finding the no good rascals who defaced Obama’s image, making him out to be the Joker? Must be the glue they used to attach the posters to the mail boxes; yea, that had to be why everyone upset.

“Montgomery says he has already contacted the Postal Inspector to look into it. He said defacing a Post Office is a federal offense.”

That’s not defacing, it’s freedom of expression. Just covering some old rusted mail boxes; probably saved us the cost of painting them. Remember, The One can have his picture urinated on just for laughs and it isn’t supposed to be a crime.

“The DNC is using the splattered Old Glory to pick up some change, asking for donations to air the winner of its contest. "[T]o put the winning ad on national television, we'll need folks to chip in and help cover the cost of getting the ad on the air," the DNC says on its my.BarackObama.com Web site, which hosts its Organizing for America campaign program.”

When hearing protests from non partisan segments of the community regarding the insensitive desecration of a national emblem:

“I don't really think it's an issue," said Leonard Jacobs, editor of the Clyde Fitch Report. "It's one of 20 videos, and graffiti is protected by the First Amendment. And it's certainly something that might hook up with the way people feel.”

There you have it, next it will be okay to drop your drawers on the public transit system and moon anyone you don’t like and they won’t be able to stop you. It’s no different than any of the other misapplications of the right to express yourself without concern for morality since morality is directly linked to religious belief.

How did we get to the point where we can justify or rationalize anything and everything as a God given right? The answer came from the back of the room earlier if you missed it.

About Me

I am a retired City of Houston Police Officer having served 20 years as a patrol officer. I am currently self employed as an automotive locksmith. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am married to my first and only sweetheart. We met while working at the Astrodome; she was the popcorn girl and I was the soda boy, both working in the back areas during our high school years.
We have 3 grown children and two grand children.